"I would never?—"
"You don't know that.Nobody knows that."She wraps her arms around herself, suddenly looking fragile and young."What if this doesn't work?What if we try and it falls apart?Those kids have already lost so much.I can't risk them losing you too."
"So what's your plan?We pretend this didn't happen?Go back to being polite and distant while we both know exactly how good this could be?"
"I don't know."Her voice breaks on the words."I don't know what to do."
The pain in her voice makes me want to pull her back into my arms and promise her everything will be okay.But I can see the walls going back up; see her retreating into the safety of duty and sacrifice.
"Think about it," I say instead."Think about what you want, not what you think you should want.Because life's too short to spend it settling for less than you deserve."
"And what if what I deserve isn't what's best for them?"
"Then we figure it out.Together."
She stares at me for a long moment, and I can see her wavering; see the woman who wants to take the risk warring with the mother who needs to protect her children.
Finally, she shakes her head."I need time.I need to think."
"Take all the time you need.I'm not going anywhere."
"Promise me," she says suddenly."Promise me that no matter what happens between us, you won't abandon them.They've already lost too much."
"I promise.They're my family, Angel.Nothing's going to change that."
She nods, relief flickering across her face.Then she walks to the kitchen door, pausing with her hand on the frame.
"Hades?"
"Yeah?"
"Thank you.For tonight, for everything.I don't know what I would have done without you."
Then she's gone, leaving me alone in the kitchen with the taste of her on my lips and the knowledge that everything between us has changed.
I'm still standing there, trying to process what just happened, when my phone buzzes with a text from Tempest.
Tempest: Scanned the security tapes, saw Ethan’s car was parked out front.Again.Everything okay over there?
I stare at the message, knowing exactly what he's really asking.Tempest's been watching this situation develop for weeks.He probably saw this coming before I did.
Me: Everything's fine.
Tempest: That why you look like you've been hit by a truck?
I glance around, realizing he must be outside somewhere.Of course he is.He’s probably been keeping an eye on the house since he saw Ethan's car on the security tapes.
Me: You know where I am if you want to talk.
Five minutes later, he's sitting at the kitchen island, taking in my disheveled appearance and the lingering tension in the air.
"So," he says casually."That happen?"
"What?"
"The thing you've been dancing around for years."
There's no point in denying it.Tempest knows me too well.
